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Sok Tong·Muay Thai Scholar
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Sok Tong
SubFamilyศอกทง(Sok Tong)
Translation: Spearing elbow
Overview
History & Origin
Effectiveness
The elbow is the hardest and sharpest striking surface on the body; Sok Tong causes severe cuts, swelling, and potential knockouts. [1]
Lineage
Traditional Muay Thai Cherng Sok (24 elbow techniques) curriculum. [1]
Competition Record
Used in UFC and professional MMA competition
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Elbow strike mechanics specific to Sok Tong
Joints Involved — Shoulder (rotation), elbow (flexion to present point), hips (rotation for power)
Force Vector — Direction specific to sok tong variant
Leverage Principle — Short-range weapon using body rotation and weight transfer through the elbow point
Position & Entry
From Muay Thai stance — Sok Tong is the spearing or prodding elbow, used as a jabbing motion with the point of the elbow to create distance or set up other attacks
From clinch — Close-range delivery
Variants
Left Sok Tong
Right Sok Tong
Lead hand Sok Tong
Rear hand Sok Tong
Videos
1 video
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
8
Very High8/10
Elbow strikes cause cuts, fractures, and knockouts at close range
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Beginner
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
Illegal
WBC/Boxing — All elbow strikes prohibited in boxing {src— WBC Rules of Boxing}
— WKF — Elbow strikes not a legal technique in sport karate
WKF Competition Rules 2024PDFKyokushin — Elbow strikes prohibited {src— IKO Kyokushin Tournament Rules}
— WT — Prohibited
WT Competition Rules 2024PDF— ITF — Prohibited
ITF Competition RulesPDF— WAKO — Prohibited in all kickboxing formats
WAKO Competition RulesPDFK-1/GLORY — Prohibited — key difference from Muay Thai {src— K-1/GLORY Kickboxing Rules}
Legal
— Unified MMA — Legal — all elbow strikes permitted
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF— art of eight limbs
IFMA Muay Thai RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓Strike with the sharp point of the elbow bone, not the forearm (Ruerngsa et al.)
✓Hips, shoulders, and feet must move simultaneously
✓Always return to guard after the elbow strike
Common Mistakes
!Hitting with the forearm instead of the elbow point
!Dropping the guard on the opposite side
!Not using hip rotation for power
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Close distance → Set up with punch or clinch → Sok Tong → Follow with knee or additional elbow
Sources & References
Primary Source
Muay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Ruerngsa, Charuad & Cartmell)
1Book[1] Ruerngsa, Y., Charuad, K.K. and Cartmell, J. Muay Thai: The Art of Fighting. [2] De Cesaris, M. (2004). Muay Thai Boran: The Complete Codified Guide. IMBA.
description, historyOrigin: sourced from Ruerngsa, Y
2Citation[1] Ruerngsa, Y., Charuad, K.K. and Cartmell, J. Muay Thai: The Art of Fighting. [2] De Cesaris, M. (2004). Muay Thai Boran: The Complete Codified Guide. IMBA.
description, historyOrigin: sourced from Ruerngsa, Y
Community
Athletics
Requires strong shoulder and hip rotation
Good balance at close range
Conditioned elbow for striking
Notes
Sok tong (uppercut elbow) drives the elbow upward from below — the elbow equivalent of the uppercut punch. Targets the chin from clinch range. Appears in 129 passages under 'uppercut elbow.' (Kraitus, Muay Thai: The Art of Fighting; Delp, Muay Thai Unleashed)
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Sok Tong work?
Sok Tong is the spearing or prodding elbow, used as a jabbing motion with the point of the elbow to create distance or set up other attacks. Unlike power elbows, the Sok Tong prioritises speed and disruption over knockout power.
Where does the Sok Tong come from?
Sok Tong is one of the 24 traditional Muay Thai elbow techniques (Cherng Sok 24 Cherng) preserved in the art's classical curriculum. Muay Thai's elbow arsenal is considered the most comprehensive among all striking martial arts.
Is the Sok Tong legal in competition?
Unified MMA: legal — Legal — all elbow strikes permitted; WBC/Boxing: banned — All elbow strikes prohibited in boxing; WKF: banned — Elbow strikes not a legal technique in sport karate; Kyokushin: banned — Elbow strikes prohibited; WT: banned — Prohibited; ITF: banned — Prohibited; WAKO: banned — Prohibited in all kickboxing formats; K: banned — 1/GLORY — Prohibited — key difference from Muay Thai; IFMA: legal — Legal — elbows are a core Muay Thai weapon (art of eight limbs)
How dangerous is the Sok Tong?
Danger rating 8/10. Elbow strikes cause cuts, fractures, and knockouts at close range
How do I set up the Sok Tong?
The standard setup chain: Close distance → Set up with punch or clinch → Sok Tong → Follow with knee or additional elbow.
How do I defend against the Sok Tong?
Standard counters include: Step back out of range / Block with the forearms / Counter with a knee strike.
What are the variants of the Sok Tong?
Common variants: Left Sok Tong; Right Sok Tong; Lead hand Sok Tong; Rear hand Sok Tong.
How effective is the Sok Tong in competition?
Used in UFC and professional MMA competition
What are common mistakes when doing the Sok Tong?
Top errors to watch for: Hitting with the forearm instead of the elbow point / Dropping the guard on the opposite side / Not using hip rotation for power.
What are other names for the Sok Tong?
The Sok Tong is also known as Sok Tong, Elbow Prod, Spearing Elbow.